[Nicky.]

How to make animated avatars -

Ok, I know there’s quite a few people who would like to know this, so I thought I’d help out.

(This is my way of making them, other people may know of other wise, and I’m sure this is the case).

You'll need animation shop (the free trial is fine!) for this.

First off, you need to download from http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/.

Go on the second list of stuff down :

The list is entitled

Free YouTube software

Then download

Free YouTube Download .

This will then download something that looks like >



Now you have the software to download a YouTube video!

So click on Download Youtube video, put the URL in an click download.

Wait till it says 100% done.

Now go back to ‘Free Studio Manager’ (the software you downloaded earlier) and click on 'Free Video to Jpeg Converter'.
I think it will make you download it the first time you use it.

Find the video. Choose the times you want on the video.. And download every 2 frames.

Now go onto animation shop.

Press the button that is first on the task bar (under 'File').

Size = 150 width and 160 height. (or bigger if you don't want to use if as your avatar)

Next > Transparent >

Settings should be :

- Centered in frame
- With canvas colour
and tick 'scale frames to fit'.

Next > 'Yes, repeat the animation indefinitely'
The number in the box you should be '6'.

Next > Add image > Highlight all the frames.

Open > Next > Finish.

Then you can crop it using the crop tool at the top..

Then save it ..

Voila.

[Hugo]

Thanks Nicky I'll try that now

[Nicky.]

No problem

Ask if you get stuck!

Ive probs missed something out in there knowing me!

[SiaSiaSia]

i wish there was a mac version of this
finding software for your mac is sometimes haaard :/
x

[MarkWaldorf]

Ohh, thanks for this Nicky! I'll definitely try it out!

[rayheartbliss]

ive tried this before...its too hard :S

[Conor]

There's also a quicker way where you go to

Open>My videos>'Name of clip'>Click and it imports for you. After that you can crop and edit and recolour ect

btw it has to be mov or mpeg format.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Conor
There's also a quicker way where you go to

Open>My videos>'Name of clip'>Click and it imports for you. After that you can crop and edit and recolour ect

btw it has to be mov or mpeg format.

On PS?

[Nicky.]

Originally posted by Markus

On PS?

My PS dosn't have this but some might have, I just wrote what I knew so I dont confuzzle anybody

and it is hard at first, then its a doddle once you have everything downloaded and sorted x

[Xander]

Ah I use a different method...

(I know its for Mac, but the steps are similar for PC's)

I downloaded "Screen Movie Recorder" Which as it says, records the screen. I find this more effective for me in animations, and makes it the quality of the clips play at normal speed.

First you press "Start Recording"


Drag and select part of the screen you want to record. It will automatically start recording once you have selected the part of the screen.


When done press "Stop Recording". It will then save the file in your chosen format, for me ".MOV"


In Photoshop Press File/Import/Video Frames To Layers.
Select the chosen file.


Select The part of the video you want, and DON'T Click "Limit To Every Two Frames" and click OK.


Crop it, Resize It and Add desired effect text/border.

Then Save by going File/Save For Web Devices/Save.

Hope this helps anyone. It should be the same for any other platforms, as long as you use Photoshop. It doesn't have to be Photoshop CS3 Extended.

[Nicky.]

oo great!

Thanks Xander!

But you said

Hope this helps anyone. It should be the same for any other platforms, as long as you use Photoshop. It doesn't have to be Photoshop CS3 Extended.

The import files from video thingy dosnt exist on my PS dunno about the others though.. x

[Xander]

Originally posted by Nickyy
oo great!

Thanks Xander!

But you said

Hope this helps anyone. It should be the same for any other platforms, as long as you use Photoshop. It doesn't have to be Photoshop CS3 Extended.

The import files from video thingy dosnt exist on my PS dunno about the others though.. x

Ah, It works on Adobe Photoshop CS3/Extended. Im not sure about CS2.

[Nicky.]

Ah right, i know absolutly nothing about them PS's .. so whatever PS they have they now have 2 different ways of doing it

[Hugo]

Thanks so much Xander.

[MarkWaldorf]

Oohhh thanks Xander! I'll try that too.

[Hugo]

I made my current avatar using Xander's way
I know its really messy atm but it was my first one and the border coming in in only one frame doesn't help LOL

[Nicky.]

Thats good TP!!

Well done !

[Hugo]

Originally posted by Nickyy
Thats good TP!!

Well done !

Thanks Nicky

[Hugo]

Does anyone know how you can do a really thin border, just a black outline ? And how to apply it to all the layers at the same time ?

[Hugo]

BUMP

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by tooperfect
I made my current avatar using Xander's way
I know its really messy atm but it was my first one and the border coming in in only one frame doesn't help LOL

Where did you download the screen recorder thing?

[Hugo]

Originally posted by Markus

Where did you download the screen recorder thing?

It says it's a free trial and will add a watermark but it doesn't;

http://www.free-screen-capture.com/screen-recorder/

I'm not sure if it will last longer than a week though. It might do. If it doesn't I'll just download it again. It doesn't take long.

[Callum]

That is great Hugo! Just a shame I have PSP

[Hugo]

Originally posted by Callum
That is great Hugo! Just a shame I have PSP

Thank you. There might be a way of doing it in PSP.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by tooperfect

It says it's a free trial and will add a watermark but it doesn't;

http://www.free-screen-capture.com/screen-recorder/

I'm not sure if it will last longer than a week though. It might do. If it doesn't I'll just download it again. It doesn't take long.

Thank you! I shall try this now.